Prepayment-meter mechanism.



A. M; TORREY.

PREPAYMENT METER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1911.

1,124,975. .Patnted Jan. 12, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D c

A. M. TORREY.

PREPAYMENT METER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1911 Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. I

A. M. TORREY. PREPAYMENT METER mzcmmsm.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 191-1.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTO-LITHOH WAsHINGION. D4 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN M. TORREY, OF ASHLAND, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HELME & MGILHENNY,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A FIRM.

PREPAYMENT-M'ETER MECHANISM.

Application filed October 25', 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALLEN M. TORREY, of Ashland, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Prepayment- Meter Mechanism, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvement relates to coin controlled vending machines, and is particularly applicable to a gas meter to permit a valve to be manually opened upon the insertion of a coin; said valve being automatically closed by the operation of the gas meter after delivery of a quantity of gas predetermined by the number of coins inserted.

As hereinafter described, my invention i11- cludes the combination with a valve controlling the passage of gas through the meter, having an operating lever provided with a rock shaft; of a valve closing shaft having a screw worm operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft having a screw worm operatively connected with coin controlled operating means; a train of planetary gearing including two sun gears, both loose on said rock shaft, one engaging the worm on said valve closing shaft, and the other engaging the worm on said valve opening shaft; an oscillatory frame tight on said rock shaft; a countershaft journaled in said frame; two planetary gears tight on said counter-shaft and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; a stop arranged to be encountered by said frame to limit the opening movement thereof; an index carried by said rock shaft;

whereby respective rotary movements of said worms turn said rock shaft in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve, and, said index indicates the position of said valve. My invention also includes the various novel features of consfitruction and arrangement hereinafter speci- In the drawings :Figure I is a fragmentary plan sectional view of a gas meter of ordinary construction embodying my invention, only the top plate of said meter being removed. Fig. II is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line II, II, in Figs. I and III; showing the planetary gearing in position to hold said gas valve open. Fig. III is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line III,'III, in

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 656,711.

Figs. I and II. Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. II but showing the planetary gearing in-position to hold said gas valve'closed.

In said figures; the gas meter 1 has the inlet 2 by which the gas enters the valve chamber 4, from which it may pass through the meter only by way of the port 5 under control of the valve 6 carried by the arm 7 on the rock shaft 8. Said shaft projects through the stuffing box 9 into the chamber 10, from which the gas is excluded. The meter mechanism beneath the floor 14 of said chamber 10 is of ordinary construction, including diaphragms operatively connected with the rock shafts 15 respectively carrying the lever arms 16 pivotally connected by the links 17 with the adjustable wrist pin 18 on the crank 20. Said crank 20 is carried on the rotary shaft21 provided with the worm 22 engaging the worm gear 23 on the dial arbor 24, and the latter is operatively connected with suitable mechanism in the dial box 26 to indicate upon the exterior of the meter the quantity of gas which has been vended. Said dial arbor 24 carries the worm 28 engaging the worm gear 29 on the.

valve closing shaft 30, which is journaled in the bearing brackets 34 and 35 and provided at its opposite end with the externally screw threaded worm 36 engaging the sun gear 38 which is loose on said rock shaft 8 but engaged with the planetary gear 41 on the counter shaft 42 which is journaled in the oscillatory frame 43 (which is tight on said rock shaft 8,) and has at its opposite end the planetary gear 45 engaging the sun gear 46 which is loose on said shaft 8 and engaged with the externally screw threaded worm 48 on the valve opening shaft 49 which has the gear 50 shown in Fig. IV for operative connection with the coin controlled mechanism'in the casing 51. Said sun gear 46 being held stationary by said worm 48 during the valve closing movement effected by rotation of said shaft 30 by the meter mechanism, which turns the gears 38, 41 and 45 in the direction of the arrows marked thereon in Fig. III; said temporarily stationary sun gear 46 is traversed, as a rack, by the planetary gear 45. which thus carries saidframe' 43 in the direction of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. IV, of

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

course turning said rock shaft 8, and thus 6 from the position shown in Fig. II to the position shown in Fig. IV.

. As shown in Fig. III said bearing 35 is slotted to permit the passage of said frame 43 when it is turned in the opposite direction by the valve opening movement of said train of gearing; so that the edge 52 of said frame encounters the collar 53 on said valve opening shaft, which thus serves as a relatively stationary stop, limiting the opening movement of said planetary gearing. Said valve opening movement of the planetary gearing above described, is effected by the coin controlled operating means in said casing 51 including the rotary coin carrier 56 having the handle 57 with thelug 58 arranged to encounter the stops 59 and 60 on said casing. Said casing 51 has the coin inlet slot 62 in which may be dropped a suitable coin, a quarter of a dollar, when the gate bar 63 which normally closes said slot is withdrawn through the notch 64 in the flange 65 on said handle 57. hen a proper coin is inserted in said slot 62 to operatively connect said valve opening shaft 49 with said handle 57; movement of said handle in the direction of the arrow marked thereon, approximately one half revolution, rotates said shaft 49 in the direction of the arrows marked thereon, so that the worm 48 on said shaft, engaging said sun wheel 46 turns the latter in the direction of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. II thus turning the planetary wheels 45 and 41 in the direction of the arrows marked thereon in Fig. II, so that, said sun wheel 38 being held stationary by engagement with the worm 36, is traversed, as a rack, by the planetary gear 41, thus turning the frame 43 in the direction of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. II, so as to open the valve, from the position shown in Fig. IV to the position shown in Fig. II. Thereupon, additional coins may be successively inserted in said slot 62 and said frame bethereby successively turned in the direction of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. II until the lower edge 52 of said frame encounters said collar 53, and prevents further movement of said shaft 49 by frictional engagement with said collar. Each prepayment for gas, for which the consumer should be credited, and dispensation of gas, for

. which the consumer should be debited, be-

ing manifested by respectively opposite turning movements of said shaft 54; I provide the latter with the index tight there on, which in the initial position of the mechanism coincides with the stationary radial It may be observed that although the valve opening shaft 49 and worm 48 are normally stationary during the rotation of the valve closing shaft 30 and its worm 36; the construction of the planetary gearing above described, is such as to permit the simultaneous rotation of said shafts and worms which are respectively arranged to shift the valve in opposite directions.

Of course, if said valve 6 has been shifted, by the valve closing mechanism above described, to the closed position shown in Fig. IV, without stopping the flow of gas, (because of some obstruction between the valve and its seat, or for some other cause,) gas leaking past said valve tends to rotate the coin controlled valve opening mechanism in the same direction as it would be turned by a coin. Therefore, it is to be particularly noted that, because the gear 46 cannot drive the worm 48, said tendency is counteracted and such abnormal opening movement of the valve prevented.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the specific type of coin controlled operating means above described, or to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a prepayment gas meter, the combi nation with a valve having an operating lever provided with a rock shaft; of a valve closing shaft having a screw worm operatively connected with the meter mechanism; avalve opening shaft having a screw worm; a train of planetary gearing including two sun gears, both loose on said rock shaft, one engaging the worm on said valve closing shaft, and the other engaging the worm on said valve opening shaft; an oscillatory frame tight on said rock shaft; a countershaft journaled in said frame; two planet ary gears tight on said counter-shaft and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; a stop arranged to be encountered by said frame to limit the opening movement thereof; and, an index carried by said rock shaft; whereby respective rotary movements of said worms, in the same direction, turn said rock shaft in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve, and, said index indicates the status of the valve controlling mechanism.

2. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever provided with a rock shaft; of a valve closing shaft having a screw worm operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft having a screw worm; a train of planetary gearing including two sun gears, both loose on said rock shaft, one

engaging the worm on said valve closing shaft, and the other engaging the worm on said valve opening shaft; 'an oscillatory frame tight on said rock shaft; a countershaft journaled in said frame; two planet ary gears tight on said countershaft and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a stop arranged to be encountered by said frame to limit the opening movement thereof; whereby respective rotary movements of said worms turn said rock shaft in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

8. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever provided with a rock shaft; of a valve closing shaft having a screw worm operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft having a screw worm; a train of planetary gearing including two sun gears, both loose on said rock shaft, one engaging the worm on said valve closing shaft, and the other engaging the worm on said valve opening shaft; an oscillatory frame tight on said rock shaft; a counter-shaft journaled in said frame; and, two planetary gears tight on said countershaft and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; whereby respective rotary movements of said worms turn said rock shaft in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

41. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever provided with a rock shaft; of a valve closing shaft having a screw worm operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft having a screw worm; a train of planetary gearing including two sun gears on said rock shaft, one engaging the worm on said valve closing shaft, and

the other engaging the worm on said valve opening shaft; an oscillatory frame on said rock shaft; a counter-shaft journaled in said frame; and, two planetary gears tight on said counter-shaft and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; whereby respective rotary movements of said worms turn said rock shaft in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

5. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever provided with a rock shaft; of a valve closing shaft operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft; a train of planetary gearing operatively connecting said valve with both of said shafts, including two sun gears, both loose on said rock shaft, one engaging means on said valve closing shaft, and the other engaging means on said valve opening shaft; an oscillatory frame tight on said rock shaft; a counter-shaft journaled in said frame; and, two planetary gears tight on said counter-shaft and respectively ennation with a valve having an operating lever provided with a rock shaft; of a valve closing shaft operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft; a train of planetary gearing operatively connecting said valve, with both of said shafts, including two sun gears on said rock shaft, one engaging means on said valve closing shaft, and the other, engaging means on said valve opening shaft; an oscillatory frame on said rock shaft; a counter-shaft journaled in said frame; and, two planetary gears tight on'said counter-shaft and respectively en gaged with said two sun gears; whereby re-- spective rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said rock shaft in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

7. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever directly mounted on a rock shaft; of planetary gearing directly mounted upon said rock shaft; a valve closing shaft operatively connected with the meter. mechanism and with said planetary gearing, by a screw worm; and a valve opening shaft operatively connectedwith said planetary gearing, by a screw worm; whereby respective rotary movements of said valve closing and opening shafts turn said rock shaft in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

8. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever directly mounted on a rock shaft; of planetary gearing directly mounted upon said rock shaft; a valve closing shaft operatively connected with the meter mechanism and with said planetary gearing; and a @11 valve opening shaft operatively connected with said planetary gearing; whereby respective rotary movements of said valve closing and opening shafts turn said rock shaft in respectively opposite directions'to open and close said valve.

9. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft; planetary gearing 0peratively connecting said valve closing and valve opening shafts with said valve operating lever, and including a planetary gear frame; and a rotary stop collar, carried by said valve opening shaft, arranged to be encountered by said gear frame; whereby the movements of said gear frame and valve opening shaft are limited by engagement of said frame and collar.

10. In a prepayment gas meter, the combi nation With a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft; planetary gearing operatively connecting said valve closing and valve opening shafts with said valve operating lever, and including a planetary gear frame; and a rotary stop element, carried by said valve opening shaft, arranged to be encountered by said gear frame; whereby the movement of said gear frame and valve opening shaft is limited by engagement of said frame and stop element.

11. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft; gearing operatively connecting said valve closing and valve opening shafts with said valve operating lever, and including a rotary frame; and a rotary stop element, carried by said valve opening shaft, arranged to be encountered by said rotary frame; whereby the movement of said frame and valve opening shaft is limited by engagement of said frame and stop element.

12. In aprepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, operatively Weis 1 this rat sm y b t n d o connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft; gearing operatively connecting said valve closing and valve opening shafts with said valve operating lever; and a rotary stop element, carried by said valve opening shaft, arranged to be encountered by an element of said gearing; whereby the movement of said gearing and valve opening shaft is limited.

13. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever, directly mounted upon a rock shaft; of a valve closing shaft, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft; bearing carried by said rock shaft, operatively connecting said valve closing and valve opening shafts with said valve operating lever; and a rotary stop element, carried by said valve opening shaft, 5

arranged to be encountered by an element of said gearing on said rock shaft; whereby the opening movement of said valve and valve opening shaft is limited.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 23rd day of October, 1911.

ALLEN M. TORBEY.

Witnesses WILLIAM L. BROWN, HARRY A. MARSHALL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 11L C.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,124,975, granted January 12, 1915, upon the application of Allen M. Torrey, of Ashland, New Jersey, for an improvement in Prepayment-Meter Mechanism, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 46, for the word bearing read gearing, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of February, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Actng Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,124,975. 

